Erratum: Author Correction: Skull optical clearing window for in vivo imaging of the mouse cortex at synaptic resolution.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/lsa.2017.153.].

The Balance of [Formula: see text] Secretion vs. Reabsorption in the Endometrial Epithelium Regulates Uterine Fluid pH.

Uterine fluid contains a high concentration of [Formula: see text] which plays an essential role in sperm capacitation and fertilization. In addition, the [Formula: see text] concentration in uterine fluid changes periodically during the estrous cycle. It is well-known that the endometrial epithelium contains machineries involving the apical SLC26 family anion exchangers for secreting [Formula: see text] into the uterine fluid. In the present study, we find for the first time that the electroneutral Na+/[Formula: see text] cotransporter NBCn1 is expressed at the apical membrane of the endometrial epithelium. The protein abundance of the apical NBCn1 and that of the apical SLC26A4 and SLC26A6 are reciprocally regulated during the estrous cycle in the uterus. NBCn1 is most abundant at diestrus, whereas SLC26A4/A6 are most abundant at proestrus/estrus. In the ovariectomized mice, the expression of uterine NBCn1 is inhibited by ß-estradiol, but stimulated by progesterone, whereas that of uterine SLC26A4/A6 is stimulated by ß-estradiol. In vivo perfusion studies show that the endometrial epithelium is capable of both secreting and reabsorbing [Formula: see text]. Moreover, the activity for [Formula: see text] secretion by the endometrial epithelium is significantly higher at estrus than it is at diestrus. The opposite is true for [Formula: see text] reabsorption. We conclude that the endometrial epithelium simultaneously contains the activity for [Formula: see text] secretion involving the apical SLC26A4/A6 and the activity for [Formula: see text] reabsorption involving the apical NBCn1, and that the acid-base homeostasis in the uterine fluid is regulated by the finely-tuned balance of the two activities.

Skull optical clearing window for in vivo imaging of the mouse cortex at synaptic resolution.

Imaging cells and microvasculature in the living brain is crucial to understanding an array of neurobiological phenomena. Here, we introduce a skull optical clearing window for imaging cortical structures at synaptic resolution. Combined with two-photon microscopy, this technique allowed us to repeatedly image neurons, microglia and microvasculature of mice. We applied it to study the plasticity of dendritic spines in critical periods and to visualize dendrites and microglia after laser ablation. Given its easy handling and safety, this method holds great promise for application in neuroscience research.

Toosendanin increases free-Ca(2+) concentration in NG108-15 cells via L-type Ca(2+) channels.

AIM: To examine if toosendanin (TSN) affects intracellular free-Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in neuroblastoma pluglioma hybrid cells (NG108-15 cells). METHODS: The [Ca(2+)](i) was determined by laser-scanning confocal microscopic imaging technique in which Fluo-3 was used as Ca(2+) indicator. RESULTS: TSN induced an increase in resting [Ca(2+)](i) and in high K(+)-evoked Ca(2+) transient in differentiated NG108-15 cells. The TSN-induced increase in [Ca(2+)](i) was dose-dependent and disappeared in CdCl(2-), nifedipine-containing or Ca(2+)-free solution, and appeared after washing out the Ca(2+) channel blockers or adding Ca(2+). CONCLUSION: TSN increased [Ca(2+)](i) in differentiated NG108-15 cells. The [Ca(2+)](i) enhancement was due to the influx of extracellular Ca(2+) and related to L-type Ca(2+) channels.

Effects of myasthenia gravis patients' sera with different autoantibodies on slow K+ current at mouse motor nerve terminals.

The antibodies against pre-synaptic membrane receptor (PsmR) and acetylcholine receptor (AChR) in serum samples of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients and healthy donors were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The serum samples of eight MG patients with different autoantibodies and those of six healthy donors without these two kinds of autoantibodies were collected to investigate their effects on the peri-neurially recorded membrane currents at mouse motor nerve terminals. After inhibition of both fast and Ca(2+)-dependent K+ currents by tetra-ethylammonium (TEA), a positive wave was revealed, which was a balance of the slow K+(Ik,s) and Ca2+ currents (ICa). Application of anti-PsmR antibody negative MG sera and healthy donor sera, whether anti-AChR antibody positive or negative, did not affect the positive wave. However, the positive wave shifted to prolonged Ca(2+)-plateau when adding two of four anti-PsmR antibody positive serum samples from MG patients, indicating an inhibition of Ik,s by anti-PsmR antibody positive sera. Meanwhile, all serum samples derived from either patients or healthy donors did not affect INa.